Meet Self Care: Our New Podcast
Admittedly, this blog is coming out much later than I had planned. Though, despite the Christmas extravaganza that’s displayed at Target, it’s technically still November, so not too far off…
You heard it here last, folks! I started a podcast this month! Meet Self Care, with me, David Self!
AD OGs may remember On Air with Avec David — a two or three-episode stint of a podcast that I launched with the start of the blog. This is definitely not that. (And that’s a good thing!)
So far, Self Care is everything that I hoped it would become and more. It’s the embodiment of the growth I’ve seen in myself and others around me in the past few years (and also the year that shall not be named.) I’m so excited to share it with you and even more excited to see where it’s going.
Before I started the show, I sat down and wrote down the following questions. This kinda stemmed from an ah-mazing branding exercise I did with my friends at Viim — which I’ll forever be grateful for! For some context:
The 411 on Self Care:
What is Self Care?
Self Care, like Avec David, is a mental health and lifestyle resource for millennials (and the young at heart), only now in audio format.
What’s Self Care about?
Each episode is a little bit different. We’ll talk about the big stuff — love, loss, grief, anxiety, marriage, work — and other stuff — skincare, shopping hauls, favorite recipes — and so much more. It’s really meant to be a place for people to tell their stories to:
normalize speaking openly about mental health and self care (whatever that may look like!)
show that self care is more than bubble baths and meditation,
encourage people to prioritize their mental health,
and ultimately empower, educate, and entertain listeners.
Who’s hosting?
In addition to myself, and the occasional commentary from Beau, each episode will feature a guest co-host. Not only does this keep things fresh and exciting, but it also allows for a wider variety of perspectives on mental health and wellness. These are subject matter experts in their topic/field that have lived through powerful experiences and have meaningful stories to tell.
When are new episodes released?
While I don’t want to promise and then shoot myself in the foot later, you can count on new episodes most Sunday mornings. 😅 Sometimes, self care for me doesn’t look like editing that week. *shrug*
Where can I listen?
Virtually everywhere. The show’s now available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm, Breaker, PocketCasts, and RadioPublic.
Why did you start Self Care?
I started Self Care for so many reasons, but it really comes down to wanting to help people. To meet them where they are, be more accessible, and create a space for people to speak. After sharing the Coming Soon teaser, I got over 25 messages from people sharing how it struck a chord and they wanted to share their story. I was (and still am) completely floored by the support.
Aren’t there already 483,002 self-help podcasts out there?
Yes. That amount exactly, actually. And though it’s still not easy to shake the thoughts that pair with imposter syndrome, my network of people encourages me (however often I need it) to push through it and dive in anyway. There’s probably shows led by therapists and life coaches much more suitable than me, yes. But everybody deserves to have their voice heard — the ability to share their story and perspective. I’m grateful to be able to tell mine in a new format, and even more thrilled to offer my platform to others to do the same.
When are you getting a podcast studio?
Ugh, not soon enough! I’ve actually looked into this a great deal. There’s two paths that we can take, each with their own pros and cons, once the threshold I’ve set for myself and the show is met:
get our own studio space with 24/7 recording access
or book time in an established studio
TBD on which path we take. Thoughts?
What’s your goal for Self Care?
I truly believe that if it helps one person, it’s worth the time investment. Do I have goals in relation to listeners, mass appeal, and monetization? Sure. But those are all secondary to my goal of helping others. If the show never makes a dime but I hear how its impacted someone’s life, I’m happy.
How can fans support the show?
There’s multiple ways to show your support: First and foremost, listen. Simple as that (and free!) Rating or reviewing (depending on platform) is also a tremendous help — it basically lets the algorithm know that the show’s worth listening to. You can also leave a voicemail on the show’s mailbox, ping me 1:1, or sign up for a recurring monthly donation to help get our feet off the ground. Note: All monthly donations go back into improving the show, and not my pocket.
Now let’s turn the tables:
Muahhahahahahhah…
What do you want to hear about on the show?